diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 714b42dcb..f81ed1e86 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -18634,6 +18634,7 @@ fi
 if test "x$enable_systemd" != xno; then :
 
 
+
 pkg_failed=no
 { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for SYSTEMD" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking for SYSTEMD... " >&6; }
@@ -18796,6 +18797,7 @@ $as_echo "#define HAVE_SYSTEMD 1" >>confdefs.h
      ;;
 esac
 
+
 fi
  if test "x$have_systemd" = xyes; then
   USE_SYSTEMD_TRUE=
diff --git a/doc/Changelog b/doc/Changelog
index f8fe42b3e..a149dff79 100644
--- a/doc/Changelog
+++ b/doc/Changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+13 February 2017: Wouter
+	- Fix autoconf of systemd check for lack of pkg-config.
+
 10 February 2017: Wouter
 	- Fix pythonmod for typedef changes.
 	- Fix dnstap for warning of set but not used.
diff --git a/systemd.m4 b/systemd.m4
index 553822418..e5d4e27f6 100644
--- a/systemd.m4
+++ b/systemd.m4
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([systemd],
 	[], [enable_systemd=no])
 have_systemd=no
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_systemd" != xno], [
+    ifdef([PKG_CHECK_MODULES], [
 	dnl systemd v209 or newer
 	PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SYSTEMD], [libsystemd], [have_systemd=yes], [have_systemd=no])
 	dnl old systemd library
@@ -23,5 +24,8 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_systemd" != xno], [
 		LIBS="$LIBS $SYSTEMD_LIBS"
 		]
 	)
+    ], [
+    	AC_MSG_ERROR([systemd enabled but need pkg-config to configure for it])
+    ])
 ])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_SYSTEMD], [test "x$have_systemd" = xyes])